Chapter 11: Gwendolyn's Bridal Training 1
At lunchtime the next day, Christo was about to go to lunch with the girls in his class, including Melvina, but as he left the building, he was stopped by a group of men who claimed to be subordinates of Count Netzel.
Or rather, they were administrative and judicial officials who had been forced by Netzel and other higher-ups to take care of troublesome work in the former Söderholm territory.
Apparently, since it was not possible to say that Christo, an outsider, had initiated the proposal that he told Netzel about yesterday, it was decided to take the appearance that the administrative officers of the Frontier Count and the others had submitted the proposal, and they came to have the draft of the request for approval reviewed.
The judicial officers also asked for the numbers of the documents because they wanted to inquire about the precedents about the arbitration issues and new disputes of the residents of the territory that Baron Ixel had before his death. Ixel―― or rather, the old man kept detailed records of previous disputes in the territory, and if a resident brought up a complaint with similar content or a fight that had once been settled again, he would handle it in the same manner as the precedent to maintaining fairness and speedy processing. The speed of the process was maintained.
The old man didn't do any particular paperwork because he remembered all the contents, but once he died, the precedents would disappear into the chaos of his study. So Christo read the old man's records and organized them, numbering them by year and content.
Since he was taken out of the castle by Netzel when he finished numbering the books, he was not able to bind them with string and put them back on the shelves.
Frankly, now that the Söderholm territory belongs to Netzel, he doesn't have the slightest feeling for that territory's residents.
However, Christo had originally planned to take over from the old man to Netzel's officials.
He wanted to do this to some extent so that all the hard work that the old man had put in during his lifetime would not go to waste.
“I'm sorry that so many of these old men barged in on us."
A middle-aged administrative officer, who was forced to work by Netzel, scratched his cheek.
Judging from the way he speaks and his gestures, he seems to be a serious and honest man.
"I'm even interacting with you at the academy, this is unfortunate."
“No. I apologize for not taking over properly."
“We could look at the documents ourselves, but there are more than a thousand records for just one year, you know? We can't read them all at once. We have no idea where anything is."
“Even if they're numbered, they're almost all stacked on top of each other. I think it would be difficult to find the material you need in those.”
"I agree. If it were possible, I would have liked them to be bound with string and put away on the shelves."
Even these men would not feel comfortable bringing documents to a young man who was only half their age. After Christo checked the request for approval, he gave them the document numbers that seemed to be necessary for each case.
"About this, 505 fight in 987, the lords who complained have accents I can't understand well. Are all old men in the north like that?"
"Yes. I think it will be hard until you get used to it."
“I see...... But I didn't expect to be sent to such a remote place so soon either. It's cold, I can't understand what the people are saying, and the houses generally smell like animals."
"But the air is good and things don't rot easily. The ecosystem is pure and beautiful. It is overwhelming."
"That's true. But as expected, I couldn't take my wife and children with me."
The judicial officer with dark circles under his eyes shrugged his shoulders.
A dark laugh broke out among the men.
Christo also makes a modest smile.
"Ah, the old man in the 505 in 987 who comes once a year to complain. The content is the same this year....... The person with whom he fights is the same. The number of the material is, I believe――"
× × ×
In the end, Netzel's men returned in the afternoon after the lunch break ended.
The first class in the afternoon session was the history of the Kingdom of Yggdrasil, so it was free time for Christo, who had no intention of taking the course.
Christo put some bread, cheese, and dried meat in his mouth, which Melvina had secretly left for him earlier. The cafeteria is open until late afternoon (the students eat dinner on their own, and the fire is extinguished at the end of the lunch hour), so even if he went there now, he would probably be in the process of shoveling out the ashes from the furnace. If Melvina hadn't noticed, he would have had to go out and buy apples for lunch.
(I wonder how long it will take to make the rune stones. I was going to do some crafting while traveling―― even in the airship, but I probably wouldn't be able to work on it if the men from earlier got in.)
He had planned to make a large number of rune stones so that he wouldn't have to go north for a while, but things are starting to cloud over a bit.
He definitely wants rune magic.
Or rather, without rune magic, Christo now has no magic that can be immediately activated.
He didn't think there would be much danger since the church and the knights of the kingdom would participate in the extracurricular activities, but as expected, his current state was almost unarmed.
"――Hey! Hey, you! Christopher!"
"Mu……"
He would have liked to be left alone when he was eating, but Christo's wish was in vain, and a thick shadow fell on the lawn in the courtyard where he was sitting.
When he looked up, there was a girl with dull gray hair―― Gwendolyn is standing there.
"You remember the promise we made yesterday, don't you? Sell me the seed of the holy sword!"
"Ah, come to think of it, we were supposed to talk again later."
Gwendolyn put her hands on her hips.
"Yes! If you understand, sell the seed quickly."
"――――"
Christo stares at the area where Gwendolyn puts her hand.
Her waist is slim and feminine, if feminine at all, but not at all uneven.
She is more girlish than Melvina, who has a little bit of breast and an attractive ass.
Her face―― tight, but very beautiful.
The shape is different from Patricia's, but if there are 100 people, almost the same number will answer that she was beautiful.
"Hey, say something!"
"I won't sell the seed. I don't want to sell it to you."
"Huh? Why!? I don't understand! You told me yesterday that you would sell it to me."
"I didn't say that."
Looking at Christo, who seemed to have lost interest as he began to cut through the meat, Gwendolyn's face finally showed signs of frustration.
"Who are you going to sell it to?"
"I don't know. Isn't it someone who has better conditions than you? Let me tell you one thing, it's not a matter of money."
"……, .……No way……"
He had expected her to grab him, but unexpectedly, Gwendolyn collapsed on the spot. Sitting on the grass with her knees in the air, she looked somewhat like an elaborately made doll.
Seeing that reminds him of the old man's words that noble vampires sometimes harden beautiful-looking humans with a special potion and decorate them as furniture in their homes.
This woman will deteriorate with age――.
The best way to keep her current beauty forever is to make her skin as hard as resin. It doesn't talk, and in some cases, it can sell at a high price.
(Let's not get carried away with this devilish fantasy. My mind seems to be a bit warped.)
He's remembering the old man more than he should.
When he remembers Lancelot cutting him up, He wants to crush every human being in sight. But such a thought is barbaric and unproductive. He needs to be calm and graceful all the time, Christo thinks.
"Hey, this is a pure question, but why do you want the seed of the holy sword? To kill the demons?"
"It's for the house. Without the seed, Setanta will hate me."
"That's what I don't understand."
Christo tore off the unbitten piece of bread and cheese and offers it to her.
He heard her stomach growl as she collapsed earlier.
Perhaps she had been putting up ever since the Count's administrative officers came.
She hadn't eaten and had been watching him the whole time, worried that he would sell the seed.
Christo continued, watching Gwendolyn munch on the bread.
"If you have the seed, will Setanta like you?"
"――――!? Are you saying he wouldn't like me?"
"If you become a Maiden of the Holy Sword, he will use it in battle. But that is all. Setanta's character will not deepen his love for you."
"You are so arrogant. You don't know what you're talking about!"
"Well, listen. I'm a love expert. I've had a lot of success. Many nuns in the north fell in love with me, and many of them end in tragedy."
“End in tragedy!? What do you mean? That's very interesting!"
“If you ask me, you are overwhelmingly lacking in individuality. If you listen to me, in about an hour, you will become a witch who can bewitch even Setanta. You can beat Patricia."
"Setanta, bewitch. Beat Pat. ~~~~~"
Gwendolyn's eyes sparkle.
Christo nodded.
"First of all, let's organize the information we have now. Knowing your enemy and knowing yourself is the basis of war."
"It's not like we're at war!"
"Love is War."
"......! Certainly! You, no, you're pretty smart!"
Gwendolyn strokes the bottom of her skirt with her hand and sits down politely.
Christo asked again.
"What can Patricia do? What do you think is so great about her as a woman?"
"Umm. Pat can do anything. She's smart, she's determined, and she's the strongest among us."
"Eh, is Patricia the strongest? More than Setanta?"
“No, Setanta is stronger. It's not surprising. He's the hero and we, the six wives."
"What about that cat beastkin muscle woman? She's called Kat."
"She herself claims to be better than Pat. In fact, she is very strong. She has a sword that slays dragons. But I think Pat is stronger. Kat is always running into her and getting caught in her traps and losing."
“What kind of demon-slaying sword does Patricia have?”
"Devil. [The holy sword that breaks off temptation and kills devils]. But the devils are gone. Lancelot-sama hunted the last one."
"Hmm, I see."
(That woman has a sword that can kill me? Then, if a battle were to occur, I should aim at Patricia first.)
Christo nodded with a serious face.
"I understand well. Next, I would like to know your strengths. If you were to appeal to Setanta, what strengths would you say you have?"
"I can swing my sword! We can fight together!"
"I see. What else?"
"This beauty!"
Gwendolyn put her hand on her flat chest and said proudly, "My hair is perfectly brushed every morning, my skin is glowing! I even have my nails done in the prettiest work!"
Gwendolyn said and held out her hand.
Her nails are covered with glittering sand-like substance and resin with pictures of flower petals on them.
Indeed, not only to make herself look stylish but also to prevent her nails from breaking when she uses a sword, works in the water, etc. It is a rational and sophisticated human culture.
"It also smells good."
"I'm using rose essential oil! It's not painful to the nose, sniff more!"
"Excuse me. Would you please raise your arms so that I can see your armpits? Yes, like that. Raise them more...... hmm. Next, take off those boots, I'd like to smell those black over-the-knee socks you're wearing."
"H-haaah!? S-smell my feet?! What are you saying all of a sudden! You pervert!"
"I'm asking in a very gentlemanly manner......"
"You're going to look at my underwear when I take off my boots, aren't you!?"
"Your thoughts are poor."
"What was that!?"
"Alright, alright. What else do you have to offer?"
He asked, thinking that he was getting tired of this exchange.
Gwendolyn's face turned difficult and her eyes wandered to the sky.
Too few advantages.
After a while, she muttered, "Ah."
"I'm good at cursing people!"
"Were you listening to me? I asked you about your strengths."
"Taunting is one of my strengths! If I provoke on the battlefield, the enemy will be outraged and rush in!"
"I'm sorry. I underestimated you. I was the one who had poor ideas."
Provocative warfare is an effective tactic.
In modern warfare, the first one to wither the enemy's great magic wins.
When Christo bows his head, Gwendolyn says, "It's okay, everyone makes mistakes. I'm tolerant."
He can't hide his surprise that they seem to be able to communicate with each other, even though at first he doubted they would be able to have a conversation.
"What is the difference between you and Patricia? Patricia can do anything and you can curse, huh."
“Yes. That's what I'm going to say. But if I curse Setanta, he will kill me."
"That's where you have to change your mindset, Gwendolyn. Let's start by questioning the obvious. Patricia can do anything, right? If you curse Setanta, he will kill you, right?"
"You're going around and around. Come to a conclusion!"
"You will make a difference with Patricia in the night life."
Christo took up the apple Melvina had left for him as an after-dinner sweet.
"Does that mean sex?"
“Yes. To put it simply. It's a word that doesn't suit me, as I tend to use literary expressions......"
“I see, I see. So? How can I make a difference? Setanta usually calls Pat to the bedroom. Not me and Kat."
“I wonder if Patricia is truly enjoying Setanta. In contrast, she endures the pain and somehow converts it into pleasure to establish the act with Setanta. If that is the case, I don't think it is an enjoyable sexual act based on mutual communication."
"Sexual activity is for making children, isn't it? The church also tells us not to seek pleasure more than necessary."
"Only the royal family protects such a rule. No matter how much you disobey the teachings of the church in the middle of the night, the truth is in bed, even the blue holy tree doesn't know."
"Is that so……?"
"You should expand your knowledge. For example, did you know that some men get off on being abused by women in bed?"
"Is there such a weird man? ...Wait. Is it a change of mindset? I see, Pat is always made to cry by Setanta, but he likes Setanta. So it could be the other way around!?"
"Yes, curse Setanta, and Setanta gets excited, much to his chagrin. Or he gets emotional and fucks you. Either way, you will accept Setanta's love. Once you've made the establishment, all you have to do is use it to blackmail him."
"A...... genius……!"
(So simple!)
"But". Gwendolyn leans forward.
“But is Setanta a pervert who enjoys being abused?”
"Proclivities blossom through training. Even if Setanta has no desire to do so, he will kneel before you if you abuse him well. You said it yourself. You are good at cursing."
"I did. I did say that, but... Does my cursing have such a hidden power?"
Gwendolyn lowered her eyes in confusion.
After wondering what to say next, Christo had a flash of inspiration and asked.
"Can you sneak out of your room tonight?"
"Yes, I can."
“Then, why don't we take a tour of the entertainment district in the western part of the city? I think there is an example of what you are trying to achieve.”
"I see. Those who actually sell sex―― the pinnacle of the industry. Just as Setanta grew up watching Lancelot-sama, I will watch prostitutes and steal their skills."
"You have no resistance? You're a noble, aren't you?"
Gwendolyn shook her head in response to Christo's question.
"Not really. If I only know the same thing as Pat, I won't be able to win no matter how long it takes. I'll do something that she can never do, and I'll make Setanta understand!"
"That's the spirit!"
Christo slapped his knee and stood up.
Gwendolyn, too, stood up, clutching the apple she had received from Christo to her chest.
× × ×
That night, after making sure Melvina had gone to bed, Christo jumped out of the window of the "Muma's Cradle". If he opened the door and gone down the stairs, he would have made a noise. When Christo landed on the cobblestones, he took a passive stance and killed his momentum. As it was, he ran in a heap to the meeting place with Gwendolyn―― the alleyway in front of the entertainment district.
Gwendolyn had already arrived.
She was standing between the brick buildings, hidden from the light of the entertainment district.
She was dressed in a black robe, with a white blouse and long skirt underneath. Her shoes were the leather boots used by hunters.
"Making a woman wait is the worst. Don't you have the brains to be on time? Melvina has picked the worst kind of man."
"I'm sorry. Melvina has a hard time falling asleep."
"Well, all right. Let's go."
Cursing is an attitude that is just saying greetings.
Christo stands in front of her and guides her, she was moving forward through the entertainment district without fear. On either side are men and women entangled like octopuses and drunks lying on the side of the road. Gwendolyn dexterously twists her thin body to avoid them.
It is as if she is a spirit wraith.
(This woman, too, seems to be quite a pain in the ass when it comes to handling it.)
Christo measures Gwendolyn's stride. One step is roughly seventy centimeters. She walks as if she were jumping, but her shoulders hardly move up and down. She moves as if she were gliding along the ground. If she is wearing a cloak, there is a high possibility that she will go astray.
"What are you looking at?"
"Nothing."
Moreover, she has good intuition.
He had wondered how she could become the hero's bride with such a thing, but this ability naturally makes sense. She is a dangerous woman to be paired with Setanta and fight head-on.
"You've been watching me. My eyes cannot be deceived."
"I was looking at you, I was smelling you. You didn't wear perfume tonight, did you?"
"Obviously. When you're trying to hide your presence, you can't let your smell be noticed. Didn't your father teach you that?"
"I don't know what my father looks like."
He knew exactly what he looks like, but he had seen him in pictures and heard about him from the old man.
He also knows his name.
But he had never actually met him.
He wondered if he was really his father.
"If you don't even know what your father looks like, it's no wonder you're not well educated."
“I guess so. But thanks to you, I'm a lot wiser."
"Good for you."
He thinks that no matter how hard she tries, she will never be able to compete with Patricia.
It doesn't matter, but it would be more convenient for Christo if Gwendolyn got rid of Patricia.
"Here we are."
After walking for a while, Christo came to the bathhouse where he and Melvina had come before.
Around the perimeter of the establishment, women, still as naked as ever, were grabbing the sleeves of men and pulling them into the entrance of the establishment. In this way, the brothel, which was called a bathhouse, seemed to be a gigantic monster that swallowed people.
"Welcome, Sir."
In front of the entrance.
Among the tough-looking men stood a tout to who he had given gold coins.
Christo takes a step closer to the man who bowed.
When he stepped out into the torchlight, the man's eyes widened.
"Oh, you must be..."
"Hello, I'm here again today."
"Oya, oya, well, well. I've been waiting for you, Sir."
The man smiled broadly and spread his arms.
His lowly face said that another source of revenue had arrived.
"It was good last time. It was worth the money I paid."
"Well, well."
"Today, there will be more orders, is that okay?"
“Of course. But if it's harder than last time, I'll have to charge the fee......."
"There you go. Don't let the guards behind you see it. It's only for you today."
"Uhihi, wow. Six gold coins and six silver coins.... pardon me, Sir."
“I hope you'll listen to me today."
"Anything."
"I want this woman to acquire the finest technique."
Christo points to Gwendolyn, who is slumped over with her hood.
Gwendolyn is in a state where only her beautiful nose and thinly-lipped lips are visible.
A different woman from the last time―― the man must have thought so.
But he didn't say anything to Christo.
“Find me a prostitute with an excellent education. If this woman achieves satisfactory results, I may use this bathhouse again."
"Excellent education―― Hmm."
The man seems to have noticed that Gwendolyn's chest is flat.
"I prefer a female educator. Not a boy educator."
After exchanging some words with the tough-looking men behind him, the man immediately turned around and smiled.
“Let me introduce you to one of our most popular prostitutes. A milk-colored ice-cream lollipop... She is a prostitute by the name of Ballot."
"I trust your sensibilities. Can I talk to her with her clothes on?"
"Of course."
After thanking the man, Christo completed the formalities and paid the price.
After that, He was then told that he would talk to the prostitute and was escorted into the establishment.
Gwendolyn, who is following him from behind, whispers.
"Hey you, the money"
"I'll take care of it today. The training will not be complete this time. If you want another lesson from the prostitute, you'll have to pay for it."
"I don't have that kind of money."
"Then you can borrow from me."
"You'll lend me the money?"
"Yeah. If you want to come back a second time. I see it as a kind of insurance."
“What's insurance?”
Christo does not answer but walks through the dressing room to the stairs at the back of the room.
At the top of the narrow staircase stood a stiff man who had received instructions from the tout, signaling him to come upstairs.
"Hey!"
“Gwendolyn, if you are going to use other people’s money, do it seriously. You're borrowing money from the devil, you can't afford to make a mistake."
"Of course. If this doesn't work, I'll be thrown out anyway. I'm going to give it my all."
"Keep it up. Take Setanta away from Patricia."
He didn't think Gwendolyn can beat Patricia, but if she can sway her, he can use it in case he has to fight Setanta.
Even if he didn't get anything out of it, he can keep this woman named Gwendolyn as a manageable pawn.
Christo and Gwendolyn went upstairs.
It was a small guest room.
The guest room was empty, and the door further back opens.
The other side of that door is located just above the bathroom.
Behind the open door, one can see the luxurious-looking floorboards and red carpet. In addition, there was the smell of thick rose perfume in the air.
"I guess I should just go in there."
Gwendolyn walked through the door without hesitation.
Christo followed.
There――.
"Welcome."
Black hair and a black animal coat.
A woman dressed in a black chemise, also made of a thin, transparent fabric, was sitting cross-legged on the bed.
A woman―― no, just like Gwendolyn, a breastless girl.
She looked at Gwendolyn with a smile on her crimson lips.
"I've heard your story. I heard you wanted to talk to me. You want me to give you a lesson."
"It's Gwendolyn!"
"Don't give your name, you idiot."
“Ha? You're the idiot one to call someone idiot!"
"I'm Ballot. A prostitute here. I've been working here for five years."
She stood up from the bed, grabbed her thick fur coat with both hands and spun around on the spot, giving Christo a wistful glance.
“The test subject is your lovely brother? He's so cool. I'm getting a little fired up."
Tftc.
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